ANNOUNCEMENT
Climate Change Communication Videographer (Paid Student Position) Summer
2018
National Park Service (National Capital Region) &
George Mason University’s Center for Climate Change Communication
Deadline: Friday, January 26, 2018
Description
The National Park Service (NPS) cares for special places saved by the American
people so that all may experience our heritage. In this capacity, NPS is in a
unique position to observe changes brought about by global warming, and to
engage park visitors in conversations about climate change. George Mason
University’s Center for Climate Change Communication (4C) conducts research
on, and teaches about, climate change public engagement strategies.
In this internship program, up to eight interns (including two multimedia
interns) will have the opportunity to work with 4C and the NPS’s Urban Ecology
Research Learning Alliance (UERLA) on climate change communication projects at
National Capital Region Parks (Greater Washington, D.C.) in the summer of
2018. Summaries of previous year’s projects can be found at
http://climatechangecommunication.org/internship_program/
Qualifications
The 12-week internships are open to graduate students or exceptional rising
junior or senior undergraduate students studying in any relevant field. Two
multimedia students will collaborate with four to six interdisciplinary
student interns, who have backgrounds in a combination of biology,
environmental science, sustainability, natural resources, sociology,
communication, psychology, etc. One multimedia student will be the summer
program’s graphic designer and another student will be the program’s
videographer. Ideal applicants will have a strong interest in National Parks
and a positive attitude and interest in learning, thinking creatively, and
working as a member of an interdisciplinary communication team.
Our ideal student would have an interest in documentary storytelling and
community engagement. Our program works with national parks to develop videos
that have informational and emotional impact, creating an opportunity for
visitors to make connections with the parks. The videographer will be
responsible for producing short videos and working with supervisors as a film
director. The videographer will collaborate with interdisciplinary interns
during the video development phase to create a video treatment or storyboard
which will be approved by NPS staff. Interdisciplinary interns will assist the
videographer during video production. Videographer applicants must be able to
independently complete post-production, including captioning and audio-
describing. This summer program is designed for students to apply their skills
and develop their portfolios, rather than receive instruction in new skills.
Please note students will have access to NPS communications staff who can
assist with questions regarding NPS policy compliance and procedure.
Please indicate in your resume and cover letter your knowledge, skills,
abilities, and interest in the following:
● Advanced video production skills and strong capabilities in software such as
Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro. Student will provide own access to needed
software. Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign) is a
plus
● Communication, such as interpretation, public outreach, journalism, or
marketing
● Interest in learning more about local climate impacts, NPS and environmental
communication
● Interdisciplinary collaboration, working with clients and meeting client
needs in an articulate, professional demeanor
● Experience with representing organizations on social media, such as
Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Expectations include:
● Strong experience in video development, production, and distribution;
familiarity with photography
● Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and demonstrated ability to
manage multiple projects simultaneously
● Strong creativity skills and ability to generate new ideas
● Proven ability to develop effective short videos ( < 3 min) that can be
delivered to clients in less than 10 weeks and strong attention to detail
● Familiarity with cloud-based computing, collaborative document editing, and
diligence in updating task lists on productivity software
Students must be attending a U.S. accredited college or university and must be
legally allowed to work in the U.S. Interns may be required to pass a Federal
government background check.
Dates, Duration, and Location
Internships are full time (40 hours per week) for 12 weeks, running from
Monday, June 5th through Friday, August 25th. All work in the first ten weeks
will take place in Washington, DC metro area. The final two weeks (with same
biweekly pay) can be completed remotely.
Housing is not provided. Interns will meet twice a week at the GMU Arlington
Campus, which is easily accessed by the Metro. (Driving to Arlington is not
recommended.)
Having a personal vehicle is recommended and ideal for traveling to National
Parks but not required. Interns are strongly encouraged to carpool to park
sites.
Stipend
Interns will be paid a minimum of $290 per week on biweekly pay schedule.
How to Apply
Applicants should submit the following materials (combined as ONE PDF file
with applicant’s name as the file name) to spatzer@masonlive.gmu.edu with
“NPS4C - [Applicant Name]” as the
subject line:
(1) Resume or CV
(2) Undergraduate and/or graduate transcript (unofficial is acceptable)
(3) One page cover letter discussing your specific interest in the internship
and highlighting your qualifications and multimedia experience.
(4) TWO References:
a. name,
b. contact information, and
c. nature of the relationship (e.g., professor, employer)
(5) A selection of projects from your portfolio to demonstrate previous work
Please note: Only COMPLETE applications will be reviewed.
Inquiries regarding this internship may be directed to
spatzer@masonlive.gmu.edu
Internship Application Timeline:
Deadline for completed applications: Friday, January 26, 2018
Interview selection: Week of Monday, February 12, 2018
Interviews: Week of Monday, March 5, 2018
Diversity
The NPS and 4C seek a diverse cohort of interns. Applicants with diverse
backgrounds from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.